The number of new investment loans rose by 3.5 per cent in the June quarter, while new owner-occupier loans rose by 0.9 per cent, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 

Dr Mish Tan, ABS head of finance statistics, said, ‘June quarter’s overall rise in home loans followed a fall in the March quarter. Through the year growth was more subdued at around 0.2 per cent. That said, lending activity is still at relatively high levels. 

While there were rate cuts in February and May, we will not see the full impact of these on new home lending activity until later in the year.’ 

Lending to owner-occupiers

There were 80,929 new owner-occupier loans approved in the June quarter 2025, a 0.9 per cent (758 loans) rise compared to the previous quarter. The total value was $54.7 billion, a rise of 2.4 per cent ($1.3 billion). The average loan size rose by $17,804 to $678,011.

‘While the number of new owner-occupier loans in the June quarter was slightly lower than this time last year, the value of loans rose by 7.4 per cent. The average loan size has grown by 7.5 per cent since the June quarter 2024. This was consistent with higher property prices, noting growth has been stronger in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia,’ Dr Tan said.

The June quarter rise in the number of loans was driven by Queensland (255 loans), South Australia (137 loans), Tasmania (59 loans) and the Northern Territory (57 loans).

The total number of loans refinanced between lenders rose by 175 (0.3 per cent) to 65,205 in the June quarter and was 24.1 per cent higher than this time last year.

Lending to investors

There were 49,065 new investment loans approved in the June quarter 2025, a 3.5 per cent (1,656 loans) rise compared to the previous quarter. The total value of new investment loans was $32.9 billion, a rise of 1.4 per cent ($443 million). The average loan size rose by $1,103 to $674,259.

‘The 3.5 per cent quarterly growth in the number of investment loans follows two consecutive quarterly falls. While annual growth slowed to 0.8 per cent from 27.0 per cent in the June quarter 2024, the number of new loans remained historically high,’ Dr Tan said.  

The number of new loans rose in most states and territories, the largest in the Northern Territory, which rose 21.1 per cent (96 loans) and Western Australia, which rose 1.4 percent (85 loans).

First home buyer loans

The number of owner occupier first home buyer loans grew by 1.7 per cent (492 loans) to 28,861. There were rises in Queensland (226 loans), New South Wales (187 loans), Victoria (88 loans), Tasmania (80 loans), the Australian Capital Territory (58 loans) and the Northern Territory (32 loans).